start it up The news coverage that most startups scenes benefit from is not a factor in Kuwait. I’ve never seen a TechCrunch article about any startups out of Kuwait.
I had known him for years. He even went so far as to invite me to join his dewaniya. I had no idea what to expect and I was a bit concerned that the others would not accept an American into the culture. Was I ever wrong- I was treated like family. After only a few minutes, I felt the most comfortable I have ever felt. When you
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accept people, they are more likely to accept you. Opportunities come after bonds have been built, and accepting others is the way to make that happen. Open to new experiences
Many of the Kuwaitis I encountered have studied abroad at amazing colleges, in addition to having travelled the world. In my experience, you cannot meet anyone smarter than a world traveler. World travelers that have an advanced institutional education are book-smart, street-smart, and most
importantly, open to new experiences. In the startup world, this is a recipe for success because you are always going into uncharted territory. If you’re not open to new experiences, you will not get very far as each new day presents its new set of experiences. As an entrepreneur, you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable in order to succeed.
there is lack of global coverage, events are taking place, communities are being built and, relationships are being made. There’s so many awesome people to look up to, and even more people willing to work together towards something greater than themselves. Kuwait startups are on the rise. I have seen it with my own eyes. Watch out, Middle East, because here they come!
I have started well over 40 businesses, and most of these businesses have failed. But failure in entrepreneurship is inevitable. The key to success is what you learn from failure, and that you keep trying. In Kuwait, I saw this loud and clear in Khalid Alzanki, who hosts a podcast called Launch on Fire. Khalid will stop at nothing when it comes to tracking down talent and getting them on his show. This is why he gets the best and brightest entrepreneurs in the GCC onboard. Kuwait is very secluded. The news coverage that most startups scenes benefit from is not a factor in Kuwait. I’ve never seen a TechCrunch article about any startups out of Kuwait. During my visit, it felt as if I got more press than Steve Jobs and it was all Kuwaiti press, with next to no outside coverage. Even though 82
Entrepreneur
NOVEMBER 2014
Jason Saltzman, after a career in real estate, became involved in the tech startup space. A seasoned entrepreneur with a background in sales and marketing, Saltzman founded AlleyNYC, a co-working space in New York. Through his role as CEO of AlleyNYC and as a TechStars mentor, he advises hundreds of startups, offering real-life practical application and creative marketing advice. Considered a “must know” in the NYC entrepreneurial scene, Saltzman is also a member of the United States Department Speaker and Specialist Program, receiving a 2014 grant from the program to participate in an entrepreneurship seminar in Kuwait. He has contributed articles to mass mediums including Entrepreneur with whom AlleyNYC has partnered, and the Wall Street Journal.
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Persistence